Building an energy-efficient home

Building an energy-efficient home

What is the advantage of making your home energy-efficient?

Good for the environment

Sustainable building and renovating mean respect for people and the
environment. You're economical with water, energy and materials as
well as space. That means that you're not necessarily aiming for a
large house or apartment, but to make maximum use of the living space.

Thanks to good insulation and alternative energy sources, you also
consume less or even nothing at all, if you use solar panels, for example.

Lower energy bill

Energy-efficient construction is good for your wallet, too: your
energy bill will be significantly lower. No wonder, as you'll consume
much less or use energy you generate yourself.

Your home will be worth more

In the long term, ecological measures increase the value of your
home. As you might already have found out... The government is making
more and more energy-efficient measures, such as insulation,
compulsory. If you get ahead of what you're required to do, you won't
need to carry out work in a rush. Your home is ready for the future.

Bonuses and tax breaks

The Flemish and Federal governments reward you for your efforts. This
takes the form of a variety of bonuses and perks. Find out which grants you can apply for.

A loan on great terms

Your bank can also assist you with energy-efficient building and
renovating. With a green loan, you also get a great rate.
You can apply so long as you invest at least half of the amount you
borrow in green improvements.

What are energy-efficient improvements?

There are many different options that fall under 'energy-efficient
construction/improvements'. You can go further than just insulating
your home better. Some examples are shown below. But remember that
this list doesn't cover the full range. As technology is constantly
developing, there'll be lots more options in a few years' time.

See this as an introduction. Specialists such as architects and
contractors will be able to give more information.

Heating

Half or even more of the energy consumption of Belgian households
goes towards heating their homes. So it comes as no surprise that this
is what most people think of first when they want to carry out
energy-efficient improvements.

Some energy-efficient heating systems:

Condensing boiler

Low temperature boiler

Pellet boiler

Wood-fired boiler

Heat pump

Efficient systems for controlling the temperature can also help,
such as a room thermostat that adjusts the heating based on your
behaviour – when you come home in the evening, for example.

Insulation and sealing

There's not much point in having energy-efficient heating if the heat
can escape all over the place. That's why you need good insulation.

Going for the cheaper option here can come back to bite you. For
instance, badly installed insulation can lead to mould and damp
patches. Look into it thoroughly.

Glazing

It's not just the type of glass that can help save energy. How and
where it's installed is also important. For example, you can make sure
you have enough daylight to light your house almost all day long. Then
you don't need to waste any energy on artificial lighting. Making the
most of the sunshine during the winter can also help keep heating
costs down.

Who can you contact for more information?

Talk to contractors, architects, building firms and specialised
tradesmen to be fully informed of the options open to
you.

Contact KBC Live to find out more about
financing options for your improvements.

Contact
KBC Live or drop by your KBC branch or KBC
insurance agency to learn more about insurance for your
building work.

Get in touch with the relevant authorities
to find out more about available subsidies.

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